At a Glance
ASME is a not-for-profit membership organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, career enrichment, and skills development across all engineering disciplines, toward a goal of helping the global engineering community develop solutions to benefit lives and livelihoods. Founded in 1880 by a small group of leading industrialists, ASME has grown through the decades to include more than 120,000 members in over 150 countries worldwide.
From college students and early-career engineers to project managers, corporate executives, researchers and academic leaders, ASME's members are as diverse as the engineering community itself. ASME serves this wide-ranging technical community through quality programs in continuing education, training and professional development, codes and standards, research, conferences and publications, government relations and other forms of outreach.
Read more about the Society in the "ASME At A Glance" brochure
Leigh Hendrik Cosentino, a Monash University student is working on an electric bike prototype that is supposed to offer superior weather resistance, ample storage space, and the most important: energy-efficiency.
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Mission Statement
To serve diverse global communities by advancing, disseminating and applying engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life; and communicating the excitement of engineering.
- Global Impact
- Energy
- Workforce Development
Member Overview
- 120,000+ members globally
- Presence in 100+ countries
- 147 student chapters
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1880
- Over 120,000 members in over 150 countries
- Over 200 Sections and 32 Technical divisions
- Headquartered in New York, NY
- 600 technical standards improving the safety and efficiency of boilers
elevators, cranes, nuclear energy, pipelines, and many other areas
- ASME Standards used in over 100 countries
- ASME members provide engineering and technical expertise to policy
makers in Congress, the White House Office of Science and Technology
policy, and key federal agencies
- Holds more than 30 technical conferences annually
- Offers over 200 professional development courses in multiple formats
- ASME's online digital library features over 30,000 journal articles and
more than 30,000 conference proceedings papers as well as eBooks.
- Nearly 250 mechanical engineering landmarks and collections of historical
importance designated since 1971
Activities & Highlights
Educating Mechanical Engineers
Entry-level mechanical engineers are strong on technical fundamentals, but when it comes to practical experience and communications skills, experience is key. ASME's Center for Education has outlined a plan to help colleges and universities meet the engineering challenges for the next ten years.
See education-related conferences in the Events calendar
Next-Generation Entrepreneurship
The ASME Annual Innovation Showcase (IShow) gives undergraduate and graduate students the full experience of product development and commercialization. Students compete before a judging panel of industry experts, innovators, and venture capitalists; learning to bridge the gap between engineering and business.
Learn how you can attend or compete at IShow
A Risk-Based Approach to Response
Natural or human made catastrophes require quick and innovative response by engineers. In response to the Deepwater Horizon oilrig explosion, Hurricane Katrina, and other disasters ASME is creating new Standards like the J100—the first risk standard designed specifically to identify potential threats in water utilities.
See all RAMCAP Risk Standards | See other Risk-Based Standards
Opportunities for Breakthrough Innovation
ASME encourages an environment for exploring creative and innovative solutions through the Office of Breakthrough Innovation. From ASME's Engineering for the Developing World Summit to the inaugural AutoVenture Forum, focused on the U.S. automotive industry crisis we are discovering innovations to address many of the most important issues at hand.
See innovation-related conferences in the Events calendar.
Strengthen the Engineering Community
ASME advances technological development by partnering with organizations with shared strategic interests. Beginning is 2003 with our collaboration with Engineers Without Borders USA and the recently conceived Engineering for Change to facilitate engineering solutions for underserved communities around the world, ASME has also begun work to draw closer association with the medical profession by launching new journals on topics such as nanomedicine and biomechanical engineering.
See all medical-related journals
Advocates for the Engineering Profession
Since its inception, ASME has provided a voice for engineers as we develop and advance professional standards. Having worked on national and global levels, in schools and colleges and with policy makers in Washington, D.C., ASME is branching out to state and local levels with ASME members serving as ambassadors where engineering leadership is needed.
See an example: Licensing That Works
Strategic Priorities
Global Impact
ASME seeks to deliver locally relevant engineering resources to advance public safety and quality of life throughout the world.
ASME seeks to have a positive impact on the quality of life throughout the world by providing locally relevant standards, certification, technical information, networking, and advocacy for business, government, academia and practicing engineers.
Energy
ASME serves as an essential energy technology resource for business, government, academia, practicing engineers and the general public and as a leading energy policy advocate for balanced energy policies in the U.S. and other areas of the world.
Workforce Development
ASME is committed to fostering a broader, more competent, and more diverse engineering workforce to improve retention in the profession over all career stages.
ASME aims to expand the capacity and effectiveness of the engineering workforce, promote the public good and increase public awareness of the value of the engineering profession.